Friday 2 March 2018 Term 1 - Week 5

From The Principal

Kia ora tatou katoa, Annyong Haseyo, Talofa, Malo e lelei, Bula vi naka, Kia orana Nga mihi nui ki a koutou, Namaste, Nihao, Salam Alikum. Greetings to you all.

Welcome to our Week 5 Newsletter for Term 1 2018.

We are moving quickly through the term and the children are keeping really active and engaged in their learning. The majority of our students are well behaved and working hard.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Kai and Korero evening it was very successful. If you wish to see the teacher for anything please arrange a meeting.

We are still waiting for our swimming pool to be finished. There has been two coats of paint applied already, but there are still some things that need attention.

The Year 2 classroom block is slowly getting worked on and I mean slowly! Fingers crossed that it will be done before the end of the time allowance....!!!!

We have started our meetings as a COL (Community of Learning) school /Kāhui Ako. This year we have a focus on Reading. We will be holding some meetings to upskill our staff to further support our learners across the COL Schools, Farm Cove Intermediate, Sunnyhills, Elm Park and Pakuranga College.  We have appointed a teacher from each of these schools to be our Across the Schools teachers, Anna Graham (EP), Amanda Jaegar (FCI), Kim Madden (Sunnyhills) and Martyn Davidson (PC) Our in-school teachers at Elm Park are Mehernaz Darukhanawalla, Sara Melville, and Vanessa Koroa. These teachers are already extremely busy with lots of extra responsibilities so we are very proud of them as leaders of our COL and school supporting all the teachers.

Thank you to all the parents that have donated used clothing to us to use in the First Aid Room, we feel really supported.

ERO will be visiting us next term after 5 years. We are looking forward to sharing all our programmes and progress with them. There will be two people and they will spend 4 days. We will keep you posted of any other updates.

Have a lovely weekend

Trish Plowright

Principal

Looking Ahead

MILK BOTTLES - We need clean 2 litre milk bottles for our worm tea.  Please bring them to school and leave them by our worm farm.  Thank you.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

Applications for funds to assist and support young people are now being invited from individuals, schools and local community groups in Panmure and Pakuranga. If you know of an organization or a young person who needs some funds for a special project,  please apply, outlining the nature of the project, what the money will be used for and the amount needed.

To apply contact:  Sylvie Wilkinson,  Chair, Rae and Ernie Johnston Memorial Trust sylviecalling@gmail.com  0274847335

HEADSTART -  We currently have space in our Head Start Programme for 4.5 year olds.  Please contact the school office if you would like to enrol or alternatively download the enrolment form from our website.

Award Winners

The following students were recognised this fortnight for their commitment to the three R’s. Respect - The way we treat other people and property. Resilience - In the way we overcome obstacles about our learning and behaviour.  Responsibility - Managing ourselves, our jobs and the way we look after property and places in our school. Well done students!!

Focus on Children

One Monday we were waiting to go back to class. But read what happened…

The Loud Fire Alarm - Today we had a fire alarm after morning tea. We had to go to the muddy field. I felt annoyed because we missed learning.  We got mud on our shoes.  It smelt like cow poo.  I heard people talking and shouting. I was happy to be back in class ???? - By Jaden Glew

The Day we had to go on the Muddy Field - On Monday the twelfth of February the fire alarm went.  We had to go to the muddy  EPS field. And plus it smelt like cow poo everywhere.  We had to go to the field all because the fire alarm went off.  Our shoes were all muddy.  We walked all the way. I felt so bored just standing there.  I was so glad when we went back to class - By Zach Newman

The Fire Alarm - Today something super exciting happened. There was a fire alarm that went off.  We had to race to the super muddy field.  All I heard was cicadas communicating.  It was boiling out there.  In the end we all went back to class - By Connor McDonald

The Gross Field - Ring! Ring! Ring! It was Monday and we were all sitting in the shade area when a long loud bell rang.  It was a fire drill!!  All the children in the school had to go to the very muddy field.  Everyone got very muddy.  We waited for ages.  I could feel the mud squelching under my feet.  I heard children shouting.  I could see the little sprouts of grass growing on the ground. Then we got to go back to class.  I was happy when we got to go back to class - by Lucy Dixon

The Very Muddy Field - On Monday we were sitting in the shade area after morning tea.  I head the fire bell. I thought it was the lockdown bell so I tried not to panic.  Then we went to the reserve. It was very muddy. I felt like I was in the ocean but with muddy water.  It also smelt like tons of rats had died in the green grass.  Me and Barathraj started to talk. Then we went off the muddy field.  We went back to class to learn - By Brooklyn Dufty

The Huge Fire Alarm - After morning tea on Monday the whole school heard a long long bell. The teacher told the classes to stand up. Then I figured out what it was.  It was  a huge fire alarm. Next we walked over to the muddy field for safety.  It was so loud that none of the teachers could hear. It was because of the noise of the people and the cicadas.  Finally we got to class and took our shoes off. We went in class and finished our work.  That was fun! - By Caitlin Atkins

The Loud Fire Drill - Today we had a loud fire drill. It was after morning tea.  We went to the muddy field. I felt annoyed because my shoes got muddy.  We went to the muddy field because there was an alarm.. The whole school had to go. The muddy field smelt like cow poo. I heard people talking We had to stand there for ages.  I got bored  I walked off the field. Finally we went back to class - By Adityaa Mulmi

The Fire Drill - Today at Elm Park School we had a fire drill. It was so annoying. My friend, Mila stepped on my shoes and they got muddy.  Then my shoes got more and more muddy. I got mad but I kept it inside.  So my friend and I i just started to rap.  It was so weird but then we had to go back to class.  I think it was a false alarm but that was so gross and it drove me crazy.  I can’t believe we had to go through that. UGH!!!! - By Sofia Steffany

The Muddiest Fire Drill Ever - Yay! It is the end of morning tea. I’m so hot I can’t wait.  It’s Monday and ...AAAAHHH. Wow that gave me a fright! Oh, I know what it is.  It is a fire drill.  “Oh no what do I do? I know! “ When we walked there the field smelt horrible, like cow or duck poo. It looked like yucky yucky mud. I saw brown little ditches filled with mud. Everywhere I looked or smelt, tasted or heard was probably related to mud. Yuck! I think we went there for a practise for a real fire.  Finally we went back to class and got clean. I think the whole school did this - By Jada Katipa

Community Notices

SWIMMING BLOCK COURSES - Swimmers usually make great progress during our block courses. They retain the skills they learn by swimming a few days in a row. All levels and abilities are welcome. Lessons are 30 minutes and swimmers will swim at the same time every day.  Email farmcoveswim@gmail.com to secure a place.

Monday 16 April to Friday 20 April 2018 from 9am to 7pm (5 days)

3 swimmers per class - $80 per swimmer

2 swimmers per class - $120 per swimmer

Private lessons (one on one) - $240

Monday 23 April to Friday 27 April 2018 from 9am to 2pm (5 days)

3 swimmers per class - $80 per swimmer

2 swimmers per class - $120 per swimmer

Private lessons (one on one) - $240

Course 1: Monday 16 January to Friday 20 January

Course 2: Monday 23 January to Friday 27 January